Chair.



G. WITTER.

cum.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25.19.16.

Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

5 w, 8 w y z 4 1 9 ggmwwxmmwx t 27 M h v58 9 I? $54K 13 1 7/ I 7 I amveulioz GEORGE \NYITTER G. WiTTER.

' CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25, 1916.-

Itented Nov. 13, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Quin/Moo GEORGE WITTEK,

UNITED STATES PA ENT OFFICE.

GEORGE .WITTER, OF STORMLAKE. IOWA.

CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 25, 1916. Serial No. 80,462.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonen VViTTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Storm Lake, in the county of Buena Vista and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chairs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanymg draw-v vention to provide a sliding seat, a back.

hingedly connected thereto, means yieldingly holding the seat and back against,

movement from their normal positions, a flexible element operatively connecting the back and the seat wherebv the seat is moved longitudinally when the back is tilted to an inclined position, and adjustable means adapted for clamping engagement With said flexible element to retain the parts in their adjusted positions against the action of said holding means.

It is a further object of the invention to provide spring stop plates fixed to the chair back and the forward end of the seat to cooperate with the chair frame and limit the movement of said parts to their normal positions, said stop plate on the chair back also limiting the relative movement of the back to a horizontal-position in alinement with the seat.

It is a further general object of my invention to improve and simplify devices of the above character whereby the same-may be readily applied to chairs, beds, clavenports, and similar articles of furniture, and without greatly increasing the manufacturing cost thereof.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which,

Figure l is a longitudinal section of a chair constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of-my invention,

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof;

Fig' 3 is a transverse line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4c is a bottom plan view; t

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section through one side of the chair frame; and

Fig. 6 is a section takenon the line 66 of Fig. 3. t

Referring in detail to. the drawing, 5 des section taken on the ignates the opposite sides of the chair frame,

each of which includesthe verticallydisposed legs 6 and 7 respectively, and the horizontal ar1n8 connecting the upper ends of said legs. The front and rear legs of the chair are connected by the transverse inner face of each side of th'eframe, a longitudmally extending bar or cleat 10 is fixed.

11 designates the chair seat which is mounted upon the cleats 10 for longitudinal sliding movement, the o posite longitudinal edges of said seat being movable through notches or recesses 12 in the inner edges of the front legs f the chair. A transverse bar 13 is secured to the under side of this Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

'70 bars 9, and between said bars and to the.

sliding seat at its rearend, and theopposite ends of this bar are also notched or recessed" to accommodate'the cleats 10.1

The chair back 14 is hingedly connected to the rear end of the slidingchair seat, as

shown at 15. The seat and back of the chair are suitably upholstered, and a contractile spring16 has one of its ends fixed to the under side of the chair seat at the approximate center thereof and its other end suitably attached to the rear cross bar 9 of the chair frame. This spring normally holds the seat against forward sliding movement in the frame and maintains the chair back in substantially vertical position.

Upon each, of the cleats 10, adjacent to its forward end, a. pulley 17 is suitably mounted, said pulleys being horizontally disposed, and similar vertically disposed pulleys 18 are suitably mounted adjacent to the rear legs 7 of the chair and between the cleats 10 and the sides of the chair frame. In the upper end of each of the rear chair legs 7, a pulley 19 is rotatably mounted. A leather thong or cable indicated at 20 has one of its ends securely fixed to one end of the trans and from said pulley upwardly through the channel 21 cut in the chair'leg 7 and then over thepulley mounted inthe upper. end

of said leg. From this pulley, the cable 20 extends rearwardly and through a groove or channel indicated at 22 which is cut in the rear face of the chair back. From the opposite edge of the chair back, the cable is again extended. forwardly over the other of the pulleys 19 and then downwardly through the leg 7 and around the pulley 1S and forwardly around the other pulley 17 and then rearwardly therefrom, the other end of the cable being securely attached to the end; of the transverse bar 13. In this manner, it will be apparent that when the chair back is tilted or inclined rearwardly, the cable bein connected to the bar 13 exerts a 31111 C upon the chair seat and slides the same forwardly in the frame, thereby placing the spring 16 under tension.

In order to securely hold the parts in their adjusted positions, I provide a bolt indicated at 23, the shank of which is movable through an opening provided in one side of the chair frame. Th inner end of this bolt is formed with a hook through which the keeper 20 moves. Upon the outer end of the bolt, a clamping nut 25 is threaded and is adapted to be adjusted thereon into engagement with the outer face of the chair frame, thereby drawing the bolt outwardly and causing the hook Q tto engage upon and frictionally clamp the cable against movement. It will be understood that this clamping device may be provided either uponone'or both sides of the chair frame as desired.

A longitudinally tapering spring metal plate 26 is secured to the chair back over the channel or groove 22 therein, said plate being fixed at its wider central portion to the chair back. The relatively narrow ends of said plate project beyond the edge of the chair back and are adapted for engagement with one of the rear. legs 7 of the chair to limit the movement of the chair back to its upright or vertical position. When it. isdesired to convert the chair into a bed or couch andthe back is forced downwardly to a horizontal position in alinementwith the chair seat, this spring plate bears upon one of the longitudinal cleats 10 and serves to yieldably support the chair back in such position. A similar spring plate :27 is also secured to the forward edge of the sliding seat 11 and is adapted for engagement at one end with one of the front legs 6 of the chair to limit t e return movement of the chair seat to its normal position under the contractile action of the spring 16.

For the purpose of cushioning this rearward or inward sliding movement of the seat, springs 28 are fixed at one of their ends to the rear cross bar 9 and are adapted for engagement by the transverse bar 1.3 secured to the under side of the seat.

From the foregoing description, takenin connection with the accompanying drawing,

the construction, manner of operation and several advantages of the invention will be clearly and fully understood. By cooperatively connecting the seat and chair back by means of the cable or thong, the chair back I may be tilted to any desired inclination so.

that a person may comfortably recline thereon and the seat will be correspondingly shifted forwardly in the frame. This adjustment may be very quickly made and the parts securely held against further movement by means of the clamping bolt 23. Upon the release of this clamp so as to permit of the movement of the cable, the parts are immediately returned to their normal well to couches, beds, davenports, and simi; lar articles of, furniture having a relatively movable bottom and back. Preferably, a single cable ise nployed to connect the chair seat and back in the manner above referred to,butjit is to'be understoodthat, if desired, twoseparate cables may be used, saictcables being attachedat one oftheir ends to the op.- posite edges of the chair backand at their other ends to the rear end of the movable seat. The extent of sliding movement of the seat or bottom of the chair is, of course, determined by thedistance between said seat and the pulleys 19 which are mounted in the upper end of the rear chair legs, and this distance may be, varied in accordance with the particular use or purpose for which the article is designed, I

Fromthe above, it isto be understood that while I have shown and describedone practical embodiment of my invention, the construction, mounting and arrangement of the several parts is susceptible, of considerable modification and change as may be found advisable inthe adaptation of; the device to the different articles of furniture referred to, and I consequently reserve the privilege of resorting to all such mechanical changes as may fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the inventionas claimed.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I- desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a frame, of; a sliding seat mounted in said frame, a back movable with respect to the frame to various inclined positions, a flexible element movably supported in the frame and opera men c tively connected to said back, said flexible element extending beneath the seat and beingconnected to the rearend thereof, whereby the seat is shifted longitudinally when said back is adjusted to an inclined position, and manually adjustablemeans to clamp said element positively to the frame. I

2;.The combination with a frame, of a sliding seat mounted in said frame, a back movable with respect to the frame to VHI'L' ous inclined positions, a flexible element inovably supported in the frame vand con nected to said back, a guide fixed in the frame, said flexible element extending forwardly beneath the seat around saidguide and then rearwardly and attached to the rear end of the seat, whereby the seat is shifted longitudinally when said back is adjusted to an inclined position, and means to clampin 'ly engage said element and hold the same.

against movement.

3. The combination with a frame, of a sliding seat mounted in said frame, a back hingedly connected to the rear end of said seat and adjustable to various inclined positions with respecttliereto, flexible means connected to said back to support the same independently of the frame, said means extending forwardly beneath the seat and then rearwardly and connected to the rear end of the seat to shift the seat longitudinally when the back is adjusted, and means to clampingly engage the flexible means and hold the same against movement.

el. The combination with a frame, of a sliding seat mounted in said frame, a back hingedly connected to the rear end of the seat and adjustable to various inclined positions with respect thereto, means movable in the frame operatively connecting said back to the seat, whereby the latter is shifted longitudinally when the back is adjusted, said means sustaining the back in its adjusted position independently of the frame, and means for retaining the back and seat in their adjusted positions.

5. The combination with a frame, of a seat slidably mounted in said frame, a back hingedly connected to the rear end of said seat and adjustable to various inclined posi tions with respect thereto, spaced upper and lower guides mounted on the opposite sides of the chair frame, and a single flexible ele ment extending across the back and movable over said guides and having its extremities secured to the rear end of the seat to slide said seat forwardly in the frame when the back is adjusted to an inclined position.

6. The combination with a. frame, of a seat slidably mounted in said frame, a back hingedly connected to the rear end of said seat and adjustable to various inclined positions with respect thereto, spaced upper and lower guides mounted on the opposite sides of the chair frame, additional guides mounted in the frame forwardly of said first named guides, and a single flexible element extending across the back and trained over said guides, the extremit es of said element ing connected to the rear end of the seat toslide said seat forwardly in the frame when the back is ad usted to an inclined position.

7. The-combination with, a frame, of a seat slidably mounted in said frame, a chair back adjustable with respect to the. seattto various inclined positions, guidesmounted upon thecframe, and flexible means operatively connected to the back and movable over said guides and having its extrem t es attachedto the rear end of said seat to slide thesanie forwardly in the frame when the back is adjusted to an inclined position.

Q8. The combination with a frame, of a seat mounted therein for sliding movement,- a back ad ustable with respect to the seat to various inclinedv positions, a spring .con-

nectedto the seat and yieldingly holding of said spring, and manually operable clamping means mounted in the frame for engagement with the flexible element to retain the seat and back in their adjusted positions.

9. The combination with a frame, of. a seat mounted therein for sliding movement,

a back adjustable with respect to the seat to various inclined positions, a spring connected to the seat and yieldingly holding the same against sliding movement in one direction, guides mounted in the frame, flexible means operatively connected to the back and movable over said guides and attached at its extremities to the rear end of the seat to slide the same against the action of said spring, and a yieldable stop element fixed to the back for engagement with the frame to limit the movement of said back to a horizontal position in alinement with the seat.

10. The combination with a frame, of a seat mounted therein for sliding movement, a back adjustable with respect to the seat to various inclined positions, a spring connected to the seat and yieldiiigly holding the same against sliding movement in one direction, guides mounted in the frame, flexible means operatively connected to the back and movable over said guides and attached at its extremities to the rear end of the seat to slide the same against the action of said spring, and yieldable stop elements fixed to the seat and back to limit the movement of the parts to their normal positions, the stop element on the back also engaging the frame to limit the movement of the back to a hori-' Zontal position in alinement with the seat.

11. In a chair, a frame, a seat slidably mounted in said frame, a back hingedly con nected to one end of said seat and movable to various inclined positions with respect thereto, and a single flexible sustaining cable for the back having its medial portion disposed transversely across the same, the terminals of said cable being connected to the rear end of the chair seat.

12. In a chair, aframe having rear supporting legs, a chair back adjustable to various inclined positions with respect to the frame, guides mounted upon the chair legs, flexible means movable over said guides and operatively connected to the back to sustain the same in its adjusted position and means for cooperating clamping engagement with the flexible means to hold the same against movement.

13: In a chair, a frame having rear supporting legs provided with guide channels, a pivoted chair back adjustable to various inclined positions with respect to the frame, guide pulleys, flexible means movable through said channelsand over the guide pulleys and operatively connected to the back tosustain the same in its adjusted position, and means for holding said flexible means against movement.

14;]:11 a chair, a frame having rear supporting legs each provided with a vertical guide channeha seat slidable in the frame, a pivoted chair back adjustable to various inclinedposit'ions with respect to the seat, and a single flexible element fixed at its extremities to the seat and extending through said channels and across the chair back and operating to shift'the seat longi- 1 tudinally when the chair back is adjusted to an inclined position.

In testimony whereofl hereunto 'aliix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. GEORGE NI'ITER. Witnesses:

PALMER G. ToRP, H. J. CRoUsn Copies of this patent may be' obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

